Pick-up mechanism



Feb. 26, 1963 D. M. GILMAN 3,079,148

PICK-UP MECHANISM Filed Jan. l2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .@E v o Feb. 26,1963 n. M. GILMAN PICK-UP MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. l2, 1960Feb. 26, 1963 D. M. GILMAN PICK-UP MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.l2, 1960 .'ildi Patented Feb. 26, 1953 ine 3,079,145 PlCK-UPh/iE'CHANISh/I David M. Gilman, Brookline, Mass. Graphic Equipl mentCo., 22 Simmons St., Boston 29, Mass.) Fiied Jan. 12, 1960, Ser. No.1,974 '7 Claims. (Cl. 271-27) The present invention relates to atake-off mechanism adapted to remove individual sheets from a press.More particularly the present invention relates to a device forsuccessive removal of sheets of paper or the like from a press atselected uniform time intervals and in a continuous fashion.

This invention has particular utility in removing sheets in continuousand successive fashion from a printing or silk screen processing machinewherein is important to be able to synchronize the removal of the sheetswith the `operation of the printing or silk screen process macnine.

The present invention is designed to remove successive sheets ofmaterial from a press and redeposit them on a conveyor, dryer or otherapparatus in a precisely oriented fashion at uniform time intervalswhich intervals if desired, may be varied. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a feed mechanism for feeding successive sheetsof material in which the elements of the mechanism engaging the sheetare compact and capable of being inserted and quickly removed fromconfined or restricted spaces on the press.

It is also an object ofthe present invention to provide a take-offmechanism of simple and inexpensive construction which is etiicient,reliable, and unlikely to require repair or attention.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore clearly understood when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the invention with portions shownbroken-away for clarity,

FIG. 2 is a' detail of a valve mechanism,

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the valve mechanism of FIG. 2 taken alongthe line 3 3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the invention with the pick-up armsin their forward or pick-up position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the pick-up arm and associatedmechanism, v FIG. 6 is a perspective detail of the locking mechanismwhereby the operating drive is disassociated from the press,

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of the locking mechanism in variouspositions of operation, and,

. FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective fragmentary details of the invention.l

In FIGS. l and 4 there is illustrated a supporting frame 1 preferablyformed of angle members. The frame l includes parallel longitudinalbraces 2 and 4 to which is secured the parallel vertical legs 6 and 8.The braces 2 and 4 are rigidly interconnected by a series of crossbraces 10, 12 and 14. The frame is further supported and rgidiiied by apair of side braces 16 and 18 on either side. Other supporting membersmay be used as desired. A working surface or table 20 (FIG. 4) isrigidly secured by means of a transverse angle member 21 at the upperends of the legs 6 and 8. This table 2t) is the printing table on whichthe impression of the sheet material may take place. The legs 6 and 8,for purposes of this specification shall be defined as at the forwardend of the device and the cross brace 12 at the rear end.

A pick-up mechanism 25 best illustrated in FlGS. 1, 4l

and particularly FIG. 5 is operatively supported by the supporting frame`1. In this pick-up mechanism a supporting arm 26 is rigidly secured atits lower end to the shaft 27 which in turn is pivotally secured in thebrackets 23 (FIGS. 1 and 4). The brackets 28 are in turn secured to thelongitudinal braces 2 and 4 at the rear end thereof. A clamp arm 29 ispivotally secured at the upper end of the support arm 26 with the clamparm 29 extending normally therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 10. Thesupport arm 26 is preferably pivotally secured to the shaft 27 at theleft side thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. As viewed in FIG. l, ciamp arm 29extends to the left from the support arm 26, so that it projects beyondthe side longitudinal brace 2 thereby for purposes of clearance duringthe operation of the device. The clamp arm 29 projects through the upperend of the support arm 26 to which it is pivotally secured and hasrigidly secured to one end the lever 36. This lever 30, which onrotation will cause a corresponding rotation of the clamp arm 29, is inturn pivotally interlinked with the guide arm 3l. The guide arm 31 is atubular shaft closed at its ends extending substantially the length ofthe support arm 25. At its lower end it is pivotally interlinked withthe L-shaped lever 33 having vertical leg 34 and horizontal leg 35. Theupper end of the leg 34 is pivotally secured by suitable means to thelower end of the guide arm 3l, while the outer end of leg 35 ispivotally secured to the longitudinal brace 2 through a block 37 (FIG.l). Rigidly secured to the leg 35 close to the block 37 and immediatelyin front of the support arm 26 is the engaging member 40. This engagingmember 40 is adapted to be moved forwardly as the support arm 26 movesforwardly and engages it. Secured to the clamp arm 29 and extendingtransversely thereto are two or more rigid air tubes 46 having suctioncups 41 at their free ends. These rigid tubes may be secured in a marmeras illusrated in FIG. 1l by a bolt and clamp mechanism 5l and S2 whereinthe bolt 51 projects through the clamp 52 securing the tube 46 to thearm 29. The other ends of the rigid air tubes 46 are connected to theexible air tubes 55, 56 in turn secured to and interconnected with theinterior of the tubular guide arm 3i. This guide arm 31 which forms acontinuous nonleaking air passage is connected through a flexible tube56 to a valve mechanism generally designated at 59. On movement of theengaging member 40, the L-shaped lever will pivot (as viewed in FIG. 5)in a clockwise direction, to the position shown in dotted outline,against the tension of spring 49 thereby causing the lever 3G to moveabout its axis in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 5). This inturn causes a lowering of the cups 41 with positive force as the supportarm 26 moves to its forwardmost position. This downward movement of thecups 41 causes a positive engagement with the upper surface of the tableZtl or papers placed upon it. The helical spring 49 interconnects theupper portion of leg 34 with a tongue 45 rigidly connected to andprojecting inwardly from the longitudinal brace 2, thereby tensioningthe L-shaped leg 33 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5.

The valve mechanism 59 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is designed to cause a suction inthe oups il as the support arm 26 moves from a rear to a forwardposition. The vacuum is maintained on the cups 41 when the Support armhas reached its forward position and the sheet material is picked up andcarried by cups 41 from the table 20. As the pick-up mechanism 25 movestoward its rearmost position, the vacuum is released and the sheets fallfrom the oups 41. This valve mechanism 59 is supported on a plate orother suitable means 6l) and provides a housing 6l. with a pair oftransverse passages 63 and 64 (FIG. 3). Inner end of passage 63 isconnected to air tube 56, while inner end of passage 64 is connected toasuitable vacuum pump (not shown) through a ilexible air tube 65.

The other ends of the passages 63 and 64 open onto the same side of thehousing 61 and are operatively connected or `disconnected by pivotalmovement of the T-sh'aped valve controlr arm 67. -This valve control arm67 has afmain stem 68 with a recess 69 (FIG. 3) adapted to operativelyinterconnect the open ends of the passages 63 and 64. This stem ispivotally mounted at its lower end (not shown) .to-permit movement ofthe -stem 68 from the position shownfin `FIG. 3 towardthe leftand backagain. vIn'the position'ill-ustrated in FIG.- 3 thev two passages 63 and64 areinterconnected permitting a vacuum pump to draw air'through thetwo passages and consequently through the cups 41, thereby causinga'suction or pick-upaction -at the cups'41. vAs the stem 68 is movedtoward the leftorirearwardly,'the passage 63 is opened thereby cuttingofi the vacuum onthe cupsVV 41. The support arm 26 is provided withapin778 projecting outwardly and adapted to operatively interengage thecross member 71-rigidly secured to the stem 68.4 This cross member 71has a centrally located depression 76 bordered bya pair of high spots`74 and -75 which' taper outwardly in end sections having'end surfaces72 and 73. -Since the axis of the stem 68 is positioned above the axisabout Vwhich'pin'70 rotates, there is an intermittent engagement anddisengagement ofthe' pin 70`with the cross member 71. Asl the supportarm 26 moves forward from its'rearmostpositiomthe pin 70 rides'over thesurface 72'and contacts high pointr'IS'causing stemf68 to move forward.This positions the stemy 68 in the 'positionas illustrated'in FIG. 3,thereby causinga constant'vacuum at the cups 41. As the stem 70 movescontinuously forward, the vacuum is maintained. This vacuum ismaintained'whii'e the cups' 41 move to their' foremost `position andstart back. The passage 63 opens and the-vacuumon the cupstis releasedonthe rearward stroke of the support arms when' pin 70 rides over thesurface -73and contacts high point 74thereby releasing sheets of paperwhich had previously been held by the cups 41. -T he support arm'26isno'w ready for the reset cycle.

The pick-up mechanism v25`is cyclically actuated" by rva drive mechanismpowered by a motor not shown through gearbox 7S (FIG. 4). T he gear boxis connected through suitable coupling 76 to the'shaft `ofa cam 77. Afollowerarm 78 is pivotally 'mounted at one end on the supporting shaft79. The supporting shaft 79is in turn suitably Ysecured to the lframe injournals. The follower arm 78 has aroller 80 adapted to follow'the camand therebycausethefollower arm 78 torise and drop with the cam 77. Thefree end'of thearm 78 is interconnected: to the T-shape'd lever 81througha link 82. The linkv 82 is pivotally interengaged at its vends,with ne end connected to the arm 78 and the other 'to oneend ofthe crossmember of the T-shaped lever 81. This T-shaped lever'Slis inverted fandis securedrtot'afshaft 85 extending transverse to the frame 1. `Shaft 85`is suitably journalled for rotation in brackets 86. The T-shaped leveris rigidly connected to this shaft at the otherend 87 of the crossmember. The upper end o'f-stem 88 pivotally'eng'a'ge's one end oftheelongated lever 89 in vturn secured at its other end to the arm '26preferably between the center of arm 26 and the lower end vof arm 26. Ahelical spring 90 has one end connected to the varm 26 'above the lever89 andthe other connected to the leg `6 ofthe frame V1 therebytensioning the arm 26 forwardly. Y

The take-off mechanism may be operatively disengaged from the press bymeans of a locking device 90a which disengages the follower 'arm 78 fromthe cam 77. This locking device 90a s illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9. Thelocking device 90a comprises a plate 91 through which is journalled apin 92. A suitable pull rod (not shown) having an engaging element atone end engages pin 1110. Longitudinal .movement of this rod pivots arm93 about pin 92. This lever arm 93 pivotally supports the hcok arm 94which 'depends from the upper end of lever arm' 93 and terminates in ahook 95. A pair of stops 96 and 97rspaced `one-above the other aresecured to theplate 91 in a position to engage the hook arm 94. Anadjustable stop 98 is secured above stop 96 at a position more remotefrom the arm 94. This stop is provided with a spring stop 99. This stopis adapted to engage the upper end of lever. arm 93. A ange 100.projects downwardly from the side edge of plate 91 in a plane normal tothe plate 91. The hook is adaptedto engage a pin 101 (FIG.

7) projecting normally from the free Yendof the follower arm 78. Thishook is normally free of follower arm 78. .AI-Iowever, when itisdesirable to disengageth'e pickup mechanism fromthe press and'when thefollower arm hasreached its' uppermost position, the lever 93 is movedcounterclockwise and thenclockwise in asequencesuccessivelyillustratedin FIGS. 7, 8 andv 9. In this sequencethe hook arm 94, on counterclockwise rotation of the arm, 94 topivotabout the stop 96=andcause the hook 95 to engage the pin 101. On'subsequent clockwise movement, the pin 101 is lifted upwardly againstthe lower vedge of flange as illustrated in FIG. 9 thereby disengagingthe roller 80 from cam 77.

What'is claimed is:

1. A device adapted to individually 'remove sheets lfrom a tablecomprising a table, a vacuum operated pick-up system having suctioncup'means, Aa lever system adapted to move said 'suction cup means toand from the vupper surface ofsaid table and to Vpivot said suction cupmeans toward and away from said upper surface, said lever systemincluding an elongated guide arm and elongated support arm, meanspivotally supporting said arms below the level of said table, with 'theupper ends of said arms extending upwardly above said 'tableysaid means'supporti ing saidguide arm adapted tomove said guidearm lengthwise, valever .pivotally interconnecting the upper ends of said arms, meanssecuring said suction cup means to' said lever for movementtherewith,said suction cup -means positioned to 'contact said table surface onpivotal move'- ment of Vsaid arms toward Vsaid table, said meanssupporting said guide arm for lengthwise movement having a portioninterengaged with said support arms whereby pivotal movement of saidsupport arm will 'cause said means supporting 'said guide arm to movesaid Vguide arm lengthwise,` means for moving said arms toward and awayfrom said table, and vacuum means for actuating said vacuum pickupsystem whereby said vacuum is Aapplied to said suction vcup means assaid suction cup means move from said table.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1' wherein said means supporting saidguide arm includes a lower lever pivotally interen'gaged at one end withand' supporting said guide arm, said lower lever having a projectingmember integral therewith with said projecting member positionedbetween' said support arm and said table and closely adjacent saidsupport arm, whereby movement of Isaid support arm toward said tablewill engage said projecting member and cause said lower lever to pivotupwardly thereby moving said guide arm relative to said support arm.

3. A device as set forth in claim l wherein said vacuum meansv includesair passages interconnecting 'said suction cup means and an air valve,said air valve having ports connected to said air passages a'nd aportadapted to be connected to a vacuum source, means for selectivelyinterconnecting and'individually opening said parts, and meansoperatively interengaging said last mentioned means and said leversystem whereby said ports will be selectively interconnected and openedover selected portions of the movement of said arms.

4. -A device as set forth in claim l wherein said 'means for moving saidarms comprises a cam and lever linkage system interengagingsaid cam andsupport arm for move) mentvof said 'support arm from said table and aspring means for movement of said arm Vtoward 'said table.

E5. A device forY cyclical removal of successive sheetsy from a printingpress comprising a supporting frame,Y a

93 first engages stop96. This causes-the hook armv pick-up mechanismincluding a support arm pivotally mounted at one end to said supportingframe, a clamp arm pivotally supported at the upper end of said supportarm and extending normally therefrom, an elongated guide arm extendinggenerally lengthwise of said support arm, means pivotally interlinkingthe upper end of said guide arm to said clamp arm for axially rotatingsaid clamp arm, an L-shaped lever pivotally secured at one end to saidsupporting frame with the other end pivotally interlinked with the lowerend of said guide arm, an engaging member fixed to said L-shaped leverand adapted to be moveably engaged by and on pivotal movement of saidsupport arm whereby said L-shaped lever will be pivoted, said guide armmoves generally lengthwise and said clamp arm thereby axially rotated onmovement of said support arm, spring means tensioning said L-shapedlever toward a preselected position, a rigid air tube having a suctioncup pick-up element at one end extending normal to and fixed to saidclamp arm whereby said suction cup will describe an arc on rotation ofsaid clamp arm, means for applying a vacuum through said suction cupincluding a vacuum pump, an air tube interconnected between said rigidair tube and a valve mechanism, said valve mechanism adapted to maintainsaid vacuum on said suction cup as said support arm pivots from aforward position to a rearward position, and

means for pivoting said support arm in a cyclical movement to and fromsaid forward and rear positions.

6. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lever linkage systemincludes a follower arm adapted to contact and follow said cam and meansincluding a hook arm adapted to engage said follower arm and disengageit from contact with said cam for operatively disengaging said device.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means including a hookarm includes pivoting means supporting said hook arm and a leveragesystem operatively engaging said hook arm for pivotal movement aboutsaid pivoting means whereby said hook arm may be selectively engaged ordisengaged with said follower arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS648,066 Bulluck Apr. 24, 1900 1,367,528 Anderson et al. Feb. 8, 19211,480,012 Roden Jan. 8, 1924 1,618,624 Albrecht Feb. 22, 1927 1,625,085Leach Apr. 19, 1927 2,085,612 Spiess June 29, 1937 2,307,069 PlastarasJan. 5, 1943

1. A DEVICE ADAPTED TO INDIVIDUALLY REMOVE SHEETS FROM A TABLECOMPRISING A TABLE, A VACUUM OPERATED PICK-UP SYSTEM HAVING SUCTION CUPMEANS, A LEVER SYSTEM ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID SUCTION CUP MEANS TO AND FROMTHE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TABLE AND TO PIVOT SAID SUCTION CUP MEANSTOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID UPPER SURFACE, SAID LEVER SYSTEM INCLUDING ANELONGATED GUIDE ARM AND ELONGATED SUPPORT ARM, MEANS PIVOTALLYSUPPORTING SAID ARMS BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TABLE, WITH THE UPPER ENDSOF SAID ARMS EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE SAID TABLE, SAID MEANS SUPPORTINGSAID GUIDE ARM ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID GUIDE ARM LENGTHWISE, A LEVERPIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID ARMS, MEANS SECURINGSAID SUCTION CUP MEANS TO SAID LEVER FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, SAIDSUCTION CUP MEANS POSITIONED TO CONTACT SAID TABLE SURFACE ON PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS TOWARDS SAID TABLE, SAID MEANS SUPPORTING SAIDGUIDE ARM FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT HAVING A PORTION INTERENGAGED WITHSAID SUPPORT ARMS WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT ARM WILLCAUSE SAID MEANS SUPPORTING SAID GUIDE ARM TO MOVE SAID GUIDE ARMLENGTHWISE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ARMS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID TABLE,AND VACUUM MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VACUUM PICKUP SYSTEM WHEREBY SAIDVACUUM IS APPLIED TO SAID SUCTION CUP MEANS AS SAID SUCTION CUP MEANSMOVE FROM SAID TABLE.